The following is a map unit description from
the "Soil Survey of Barnstable County, Massachusetts (Fletcher,
1993)"

CcA-Carver loamy coarse sand, 0 to 3 percentslopes.
This very deep, nearly level, excessively drained soil
generally is in broad areas on outwash plains but is also in
areas of sandy glacial lake deposits. It makes up approximately 1.2
percent (3,020 acres) of the survey area. It is mapped mainly in
the Enfield-Merrimac-Carver general soil map unit. Areas are
irregular in shape and range from 5 to 300 acres in size.

Typically, the surface is covered with an organic layer. This
layer is about 2 inches of loose, undecomposed pine needles,
leaves, and twigs and 1 inch of matted, partly decomposed and
well decomposed organic material. The surface layer is light
brownish gray, very friable loamy coarse sand about 3 inches
thick. The subsoil is coarse sand about 33 inches thick. The
upper 10 inches is strong brown and very friable, the next 9
inches is yellowish brown and very friable, and the lower 14
inches is brownish yellow and loose. The substratum to a depth of
65 inches or more is light yellowish brown, loose coarse sand.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Eastchop, Enfield, Hinckley, and Merrimac soils and areas where
slopes are more than 3 percent. Included soils make up about 20
percent of this unit.

Permeability is very rapid in the subsoil and substratum of
the Carver soil. Available water capacity is very low. The soil
is droughty in late summer. Depth to the seasonal high water
table is more than 6 feet.

Most areas are used as woodland. Many areas have been
developed for homesites, and a few areas are farmed.

This soil is poorly suited to cultivated crops because of the
low available water capacity. Irrigation is needed for most
cultivated crops. Mixing plant residue and manure into the
surface layer increases the available water capacity, helps to
maintain good tilth, and increases the organic matter content.

This soil is poorly suited to hay and pasture. The main
management objective is the prevention of overgrazing, which
reduces the hardiness and density of desirable plants. Proper
stocking rates, timely grazing, and restricted use during wet
periods help to maintain plant density and minimize surface
compaction.

This soil is poorly suited to woodland because of the
droughtiness. Thinning dense stands to standard stocking levels
results in more vigorous tree growth. Diseased, deformed, and
otherwise undesirable trees should be removed when the stands are
thinned. The most common trees are pitch pine, scrub oak, scarlet
oak, white oak, and black oak. Generally, these trees are of poor
quality and seldom attain heights of more than 35 feet.

Few limitations affect the use of this soil as a site for
buildings with or without basements. The droughtiness is a
limitation affecting lawns and shallow-rooted trees and shrubs.
Adding a layer of topsoil and frequently watering during dry
periods help to overcome this limitation.

This soil readily absorbs but may not adequately filter the
effluent in septic tank absorption fields. The poor filtering
capacity may result in the pollution of ground water. The hazard
of pollution increases with the density of housing. Precautionary
measures may be necessary in some areas.